2009 NBA Trades
5 significant NBA trades of the 2008-2009 season:
Oklahoma City acquired guard Chucky Atkins and a conditional 2009 first-round draft pick from Denver for center Johan Petro and a 2009 second-round draft pick. Atkins, a 10-year veteran, had been disappointed by his lack of playing time since coming back from an injury-plagued 2007-08 season. Atkins was averaging only 1.9 points per game. Petro, a reserve center, was needed to provide additional inside depth for the Nuggets. Petro averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds at the time of the trade. The exchange of draft choices did little to hurt Denver, which reached the NBA semifinals. Who got the better trade? Our vote goes to Denver.
Orlando traded guard Keith Bogans and cash to Milwaukee for guard Tyronn Lue. Bogans was brought on board to help ease the loss of Michael Redd, the team's top scorer who was lost for the season with torn knee ligaments. Bogans was averaging 5.3 and 3.1 rebounds when traded. Lue, who was expected to provide additional ball-handling skills and 3-point shooting, was averaging 4.7 points and 1.5 assists. It was the second tour of duty with the Magic for Lue, who played there in 2003-04. Who got the better trade? Our vote goes to Orlando, simply because Tyronn Lue is a cool guy.
Oklahoma City traded Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler and the rights to DeVon Hardin. Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in 1995, was averaging 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds. DeVon Hardin was the No. 50 overall pick from the 2008 draft. Who got the better trade? Oklahoma City, but only if it can sign Hardin.
Memphis acquired forwards Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and first-round pick in 2009 from Orlando for guard Kyle Lowry. Foyle was traded back to the Magic a month later in order to provide a strong practice partner for center Dwight Howard. Foyle was averaging just 1.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. Lowry, a second-year pro from Villanova, is a legitimate scoring threat with good ball-handling skills. Who got the better trade? Orlando, since Foyle helps making Howard even more formidable in the middle.
Minnesota acquired forward/center Shelden Williams and guard Bobby Brown from Sacramento for center Calvin Booth and guard Rashad McCants. Booth, who averages 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds, provides experience in the middle and McCants is reliable scorer who was averaging 9.1 points. Williams, a former No. 1 pick for Atlanta, averages 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds. Brown, an undrafted rookie out of Cal State Fullerton, was averaging 5.2 points and 1.9 assists. Who got the better trade? Sacramento, since the Kings got rid of Shelden Williams, who is arguably one of the biggest disappointments in the history of the NBA.
